Editor,
Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma is under attack from all quarters. There is a group that’s hell bent on proving that he is not a Scheduled Tribe. There is ruling on this matter in the Gauhati High Court on the tribal status of late SDD Nichols Roy whose mother was an American and father a Khasi. The Court ruled that if one parent is a tribal the child is a tribal. Dr Mukul Sangma has the features of a tribal. His father is a tribal (Marak) so irrespective of whatever clan name he takes and which is not taboo in Garo society, he is still a tribal. So why the brou-ha-ha on this? Does Mukul Sangma’s non-tribal lineage (mother being Muslim) make him a collaborator in the influx dilemma? Isn’t this a dangerous assumption not based on evidence? Then there is another group of rag-tag regional party leaders who have taken the case of Dr Sangma’s connections with militant groups to Delhi. This looks like a last ditch effort to oust the chief minister out. Funnily the defeated MLA BM Lanong seems to be lecturing to all about the militant-politician nexus, quite forgetting that there are allegations about some of our own MLAs being in league with some militant groups of Nagaland. Why was there was no hue and cry on that? Seems like a case of selective amnesia.
I am against anyone having any kind of truck with militant outfits but the allegations must be based on factual evidence and not what a militant says. Why are we so quick to believe the cock and bull story of gun-toting killers whose criminal antecedents are established? Let there be an impartial enquiry into this matter. It would also be good to expand the terms of reference and let the enquiry be against all politicians of Meghalaya so that those who have had connections with militants in the past (and that is very well known to the Union Home Ministry and the IB)be put through the scanner and action taken against them too.
Yours etc.,
SK Lyngdoh,
Shillong-3
Re-employing bureaucrats
Editor,
I wonder why the Chief Minister has appointed another retired bureaucrat as Chairperson of MPSC. Is there no other competent person for this important public office? We are tired of inefficient bureaucrats taking on responsible positions in public bodies after retirement. We may be cynical of the Aam Aadmi Party but this sort of arrogant behaviour from politicians that they can do what they like and appoint who they want which turns young people rebellious and anarchic. It is also very unfortunate that every chief minister of Meghalaya has only looked at his home turf and disregarded the other tribes. If it’s a Khasi chief minister he will appoint incompetent Khasis to important bodies so long as they do his bidding. If the chief minister is a Garo his gaze does not go beyond his tribesmen/women. How pathetic is this? Is this the statesmanship and good governance that we can expect from Dr Mukul Sangma? Or is he partial towards his people since they elected more Congress MLAs than the Khasi and Jaintia voters? If this is how decisions are taken how can Meghalaya be called a progressive State.
The MPSC has received much adverse publicity over the years. Here was an opportunity for Dr Mukul Sangma to show that he can rise above tribe, personality and predictability. But he has turned to be just another politician with no futuristic vision. A person with a vision will appoint the right people in the right places so they can deliver the goods. A public office that runs on public funds is not the personal property of the CM for him to appoint any one he wishes to do a favour to.
When will Meghalaya give birth to a leader blessed with a vision for the people?
Yours etc.,
JN Kharnaior,
Via email